Seed-discharging mechanism.



0. F. SMITH. S'EED DISCHARGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATlON FILED DEC. 21.. I915.

Patented 00t.'30, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I filgani' or:

0. F. SMITH.

SEED DI-SCHARGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2h 1915.

. 1,244,787 1 Patented 001;. 30,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0. F. SMITH.

SEED DISCHARGING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21. 19I5.

1,244,787. Patent-ed.- Oct. 30,1917.

' a SHEETS-SHEET a.

1 M 111 I T 3gb 6' i V 5 I I 1 T Ir "g0 i i! r fb 9 g gr? 8w W M* %%&

* To all, whom it may' concern: 1

contained in a can or hopper, is-di'seh arged 0RBIN :F. sM1TH,:oF. :lVLOLIN-E, :ILLInoIs, assienon To MOLINE rtoiii coivngniir n I a .JY'CORBQRATION OF ILLINOIS. 1 v I mamma n amass Application filed Decemher Be it knownthat I, ()RBIN F. SMITI-Ipa i citizen of the United States, residing at lllo line, in'the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have Y invented certain new and useiul Improvements in Seed-Discharging Mechanism; of which the' following is-a specification, reference being had 1 therein to the accompanying drawing; Q

'Thi s invention relates t'o'seed discharging ine'chanism of the type in Which the seed,

from the b-ottomthereo-f lay-means of1a'ro tary *se-ed plate containing s eed-cells; in! 1 which cells the'seedenter from the overly- 1 ing'mass and by Whichthey are earri'ed in the rotation of the platetothe-pointof d'ischarge. In a certain type of mechanism of this character the seed cells are in the'form of open notches in the edge of theplate and are knownin the art as edge' cells, loeeause of the fact that theseed are carried in the "cells on edge, and' the' plate is so 'rotatably supported on a-suitable base plate thatthe cells will travel inclose 7 proximity {to a-surrounding relatively fiX ed suri-ace which 7 closes the. outer sides ofthe cells,-- Whoseb0ttoms are closed by' t he base'plate; The base plate provided at-one-pointwvith a discharge opening to permit f the seed to leave 1 the cells and be discharged,- a cut-oil device being employed which acts adjacent the point Where'the seeds are discharged and prevents entrance of more than one seedin a cell -and a knooker device being also em- 'ployed, whichacts on the seed in] the cells as they reach the discharge opening and i ini sures the discharge of the same from the cells. The seed'plates are usually employed in series or sets being distinguished from each other in the dimensions of the cells, so

i that different kinds of seeds. may Ebe planted,

hand the plates of theseries are interchange- I able inthe mechanism to adapt one or another 1 01111 of plate to be used accordingto the kind of seed to be planted. As seed-vary 'much in size andshapep from the largest "seed such as" Lima beans, to "the smallest s'uclnas onion seed, it'is impracticable to providea-set of plates of the same diameter for allthe different kinds of seed for the reason that thefcut-o li"device and knock-er device [could not be madet'o' ope-rate prop- -erly -in connection Withthe Widely varying "forms and sizes of the cells inthe dilierent '1 Specification ofil liielisi iatent; I

STA sraTanT OFFICE. 1

plates. Ear instance if thfelcut ofl device is I set normally higlpenoufgh ifor-the .largen seed it will 1 bet-entirely; too ihiglnto 1 operateprop erlyin. connection :With plate containing relatively small cells :fo rg smaller iseeds.

; It is the: aim 'o-f invention toxovei eeme this d'ifiiculty and: to-pro vide at "the Iuse-in the same mechanism of i a iseries; of f ll-11131- changeable seed platesuivithvcells varying Widely in 'dimensions, to han'cllesee d': varying insize mm the manimnmtto ithe minimum --lI"-I'(3Sllli?/O*f this arrangement and constructie-n oi the parts, ;.a (great vavietyio'f iseed plates for handling diflerent kindsoi seed :varying greatly in :siZe,-;fr0m st'he maximum,

onion seeds, -ina-y be employed iin :thevohe mechanism in cenneetionqvitlr supporting i "base plate" common to; all 'ofrsthe .seedrplates. i The invention also 1 consists of cnt-iofl' "de- :forrn and constructiomi and arranged toiicoplates. I a v is In theiaccompanyin'g drawings: I Figure 1 isna. vertical.sectional. elevatio through a seed? discharging mechanism show= :ing the sameequipped .Withearelatively large seedp late for planting lartgeuseedl 9 1 Fig. isa top plan view 'of ther @same the covering plate: for the eut-offrsandslnnocker devices: being removed to expose: these parts t'0 i- I I 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1 showin l the; mechanism-i with the filler .iring and 1 one of theisinal'lseedplateska'pplieduy a 'Fig. is a planiviewiof-the samevwithlthe coverin g '1 plate for the i eutf-ofi land lxinocker devices removed to: {expose e these: ,Jparts sto view; l i Egg-51 is a: plan; view :showingthe. relation ofthe seed plate shownyinrthe-pnece ding *figure tothe;xzlisehargeopening;

FigflG isasectionalielevatlon taken OIiwlJllG to r be used, which filler- :ring will overlieithe enter-portion of thesupponting plateff :As 1

such as Lima beans;tortheniininiunnsuehas ;vices and a Qknocker device of improved 1 0peratewvith= the i eed cells of clifierenttsi-zed v preventing circumferential movement of the fillerring.- a I Referring to the drawings: 1 represents a cam or hopper to contain the seed to be planted in the bottom of which is a seed discharging mechanism comprising a rotary seed plate 2, which is supported for rotation on a supporting or base plate 3, in the form of a ring cont-aming at one point an opening 4 therethrough, through which the seed carried by the plate are discharged. The seed plate is of ring-like form,

- and contains in its vouter edge open notches 2 constituting edge cells in which the seed enter from the overlying mass in the hopper and by which they are carried over the discharge opening. The outer edge of the plate travels in. close proximity to a fixed surrounding surface 5 forming an annular shoulder and constituting the inner edge of a. ring or frame 6 which formsin effect the base of the cam or chopper 1. The seed plate is adapted to'be rotated by anyappropriate I and suitable means. In the present lnstance .a horizontal rotary head 7 is employed,

which is mounted for rotation centrally beneath the baseplate 3, being provided with up-standing driving lugs 7 a which, when a seed-plate is supported by the base plate,

will engage depending drivinglugs 2 on the under side of the seed plate, the. said driving head being provided with gearteeth 7." adapted to be engaged by a driving pinion .8. carried by a shaft 8 mounted in the frame structureand adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power.

. .The supporting surface of the base plate 3 slopes outwardly and downwardly from its the outer sides of which cells will be closedinner edge and terminates in an open annu- 'larnchannel 9 at the outer edge of the plate,

- and when one of the l'argerseedplates 2 is e 7 inoperative positionon thebase plate,,.the

seed cells E2 therein will register with the said annular channel, the bottomof which will form the bottoms of the seed cells, and

:bY the surrounding surface 5 on the base ring 6. The channel 9 in the base platethus forms in effect a downward continuation of y the seed cells, thereby forming cells of ex- Ltreme depth suitable for accommodating the larger size seeds such as Lima beans and the "like. I

Overlyingv the central open portion of the base plate and the driving head 7, is a cap plate 10 sustained by'arms 10 extending inwardly from the base ring 6. which cap plate acts to direct the overlying seed outwardly so that they will enter the seed cells. At'one side, where the discharge opening in the base plate is located, the annular space between the cap plate and base ring is bridged by a bracket plate 11 in the "under iside of which are-mounted side by-side,'an

outer cut-oft device 12 and an inner cut-oif device 13. These cut-ofi' devices are in the form of fingers mounted side by'side and 'pivotally sustained at one end by means of a radially extending pivot pin 14 carried 'by the" bracket plate and extending loosely through openings in the ends of the fingers,

springs 15 being provided which bear against the upper sides of the fingers and which urge the free ends of the fingers yield ingly downwardly. These cut-off devices are cells, and the inner cut-01f device 13 similarly cooperating with a small plate when the latterv is used. These devices are rendered'active and inactive according to the size of plate in use, in the manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

Mounted on the under side of the bracket plateover the discharge opening is a knocker ,device 16 consisting of a finger pivoted at one end on a horizontal axis17, and adapted at its opposite end to enter the cells in the seed plate as the cells pass over the discharge opening, andacting to dislodge the seeds therefrom and insure their delivery into the discharge opening. This finger is .acted on as usual by a spring 18 hearing on the upper side of the same. The axis of this knocker device is in the form of a rod .119, which is pivoted at its inner end on a verticalv axls so that the rod may be swung thereon in order to adjust the knocker de vice from an outer position where it will cooperate with the seed cells in the larger plates 2, to an inner position where it will cooperate with seed cells in plates of smaller diameter as will be more, fully described hereinafter. I

The mechanism so far described employing a seed plate 2 of larger diameter is adapted for handling seed of the larger size,

such as Lima beans and the like, the seed plate in the operation of the mechanism acting to carry the seed contained in the cells' successively and continuously to the discharge opening 4, at which point the seed Wlll leave the cells and'be delivered through the discharge opening, the outer cut-off device 12 being operative to perform its functions in connection with the larger seed plate, "and the knocker device-being adjusted to its outer position so that it will perform its functions in connection with said plate.

In order that seed plates of smaller diameter containing cells of smaller dimensions may be employed to handle the smaller seeds such as Egyptian corn, Kafir corn, onion seeds, milomaize, feterita, and the like, and

in order that these plates may be employed.

in the same mechanism with the larger iso plates, and may be operated cooperatively with the cut-off and knocker mechanisms,

I provide a filler ring 20 which, when the within the filler ring in such position that the inner edge of the ring will close the outer sides of the edge cells 22 in the plates. The filler ring consists of an upper downwardly sloping body portion 20 and an annular depending flange 20", the flange extending Within and filling the open annular channel in the base plate, and the sloping portion 20 overlying and covering the outer portion of the base plate. The filler ring at one point'is formed with depending lugs 20 which are adapted, when the filler ring is in position, to extend down into the discharge opening in the base plate between the side walls of the opening, and which will thereby preventthe filler ring from moving circumferentially and maintain it in position on'the base plate. The discharge opening in the base plate extends radially inward beyond the inner edge of the filler ring so that the cells of the smaller seed plate will register with the inner portion of the discharge opening as the plate is rotated, and the seeds will be delivered therethrough;

The smaller seed plates are formedon their under sides with depending lugs 23 similar to the lugs of the larger seed plate, by which the plate 21 will be rotated from the driving head 7- in the same manner as the larger plates are rotated by said head. The

relation of the parts is such that when the filler ring is in'place it will engage the under side of the outer cut-off device and will render the same inoperative, but will not interfere with the action of the inner cut-off device, which latter'will bear on the small seed plate over the cells therein and will act to perform its cut-off functions in connection with said seed plate. The

V knocker device, when the filler ring is employed and with the smaller seed plate in use, will be adjusted inwardly to its inner position as shown in Fig. 4. so that it will cooperate with the cells of the smaller plate and perform its functions in connection therewith.

In the operation of the mechanism, when it is desired to plant seeds of the larger size,

such as Lima beans and the like, an appropriate seed plate of the larger diameter is applied to the base plate, and in the rotation of the same, the seed will enter the edge cells and will be carried continuously and successively to the discharge opening and will be acted on by the; outer cut-off device and the knocker device, with the latter adjusted in its outer position. YVhen now the mechanism is to be employed-for planting the smaller size seeds, the larger" plate is -removed,the filler ring is applied a to the base plate with the lugs thereon ex-] tending in the discharge opening, and one a of the smaller seed plates is set in place over the central portion of the base plate.

The inner-edge ofthe filler ring will close the outer sides ofthe'seed cells and bearing against the outer cut-off device will render'f the same inoperative, the knocker device be- 111g ad usted to its inner position. When the plate is rotated, the seed in the cells willr' be advanced to the discharge opening sub;

ject to the action of the inner cut-o-ft'device and to the action of the knocker device, and the seed-will be delivered to the discharge opening at the inner side of the same.

It will thus be seenthat by the construca tion and arrangementdescribed I am en abled by the use of the filler ring to employ a great number of seed plates containing cells of varying sizes to. accommodate various kinds of seed, ranging in size. from the maximum, such as Lima beans, to the minimum, such as onion seed, all of the plates being adapted to be operatively supported by the one baseplate, beingadapted'to be driven:

by the single driving head, and being adapted to cooperate with the cut-off and'knocker' mechanisms. 'Having thus described my invention, what Icla'imis; a I 1. In a seed discharging mechanism, the

combination of a base plate provided with a seed discharging opening said base plate being .formed to I give support at will toseed plates of respectively diflerent diameters having edge cells therein, a removable filler -ringjoverlying the outer portion of the base plate, a removable rotary seed plate supported by thebase plate within the filler ring and having edge cells therein closed: at

their outer sides by the edge of the filler ring, an-annular shoulder in position to close the outer sides of the cells. in a plate of larger diameter when the latter is substituted for the filler ring and itsassociated 7 seed plate, and means for rotating the seed plate to carry the cells-in dischargingv relation to the discharge opening:

a seed discharging opening and having an open peripheral channel,- aremovable filler ring overlying the outer portion of the base plate and extending in said channel, a rotary seed plate supported by thebase plate within the filler ring and having edge cells closed at their outer sides by the filler ring, and means for rotating said seed plate.

. 2. In a seed dischargingmechanism, the combination of a base plate providedwith 3.. In a seed discharging mechanism, the

combination of a' base plate providedwith anopen peripheral channel and having a seed discharge opening intersecting the "channel; said: base plate being adapted to give support to aremovablerotary seed plate-having edge cells which W'1llI6g1Sl'iGI" with the channel, and which Wlll pass over theouter portionof the discharge opening, itilGlHOVflblQ filler ring overlying the outer portion of the base plate and extending in said channel, a rotary seed plat'e supported by; the base platewivithin the filler ringand provided with edgev cells closed at their outer sides by the; surrounding qfiller ring,-

and-closed'at their bottoms by the-base plate, said cells adapted in the rotation ,olfithe plate to; pass over theinner portion of the discharge opening, andmeans for rotating the plate, V

4. In a-seed dischargingmechanism, the

combination of; a base plate having a seed discharging openingjand adapted to give support to a removable rotary seed plate having cells Which Will register With the outer POItlOIrOf the discharge opening, a cut ofi device imposition to cooperate With; the; cells insa-id removable seed plate, a%re-- movable filler ring overlying the outer portionr-ot the base plate in position to-render means for rotating said seed plates;

5. In a. seed discharg ng mechanisnn the combination of a base plate havinggaseed discharging opening;;and adapted to give support to a rotary-seed plate of large diameter having seed-cells,which'willI regis-- ter" with said discharging opening, a-re-.

movable filler ring'overlyingthe outer-pop, I tion 'of the base plate and adaptedto co operate With a series of interchangeable rotary seedv plates of smaller dlanieter having edge cells of 7 different ,dimensions'to, accommodate different kinds of seeds, cach of" said seed plates of smaller diameter adapted to be-supported byuthe base plate Within the filler ring, Withthe outer sides of the cells closed by the inner edge of the ring," and means for-rotating the supported seed plate.

6'. In aseed discharging mechanism, the combination of a base platey'provided. with an open peripheral channel'and having'a seed discharging opening intersecting the channel, said base plate adapted to give support to .a removable rotary seed plate having edge, cells which will register With thechannel and; which will pass overthe outerportion of the. discharge opening, an outer cut-ofl device supportedin position tov cooperate with the cells in said removable seed plate, a removable 'fillerring overlying the outer portion of the base plate I and provided with a peripheral flange seat-7. ed inthe channel in the base plate, said; filler ring beingin position to render the cut-oils device inoperative, a rotary seed plate supported by the base plateavithinthe filler; ring; and provided with edge. cellsclosed atptheir outer sides by the ring and adapted inthe rotation or the ring to reg ister with the inner portion of the discharge opening; an inner-cut-ofldevice cooperating Witl'rsaid seed plate,.and means for rot-at-- ing-gsaid seedlplate.

7.-In a seed discharging mechanism, the combinationJof abase plate to support interchangeable seed plates of, different dia1n' etersv having edge cells, a filler ring removably suppoi't'ed by the outer portion of thei base platfe and-thriving,an-annular inner sur 1 face, and 'a, removable seed plate of rela- 35 tively small diameter supported bythe base plate inipositio'n to have the-outer sides of its edge cells closed by, said annular surlace'on the filler ring, said filler ring be ing; i'einovecl When a large seedplate is sups. 9O ported by thebase plate;

8. "he seed discharging mechanism; having; ineans-- for operating interchangeable seed plates of different diameters containing dif'- fere'nt sized edge cellsfor; aseejds. ofdifierent- '95 sizes, in combination with; a member" adapt ed} to cooperate =Withplates of smaller diam: eter? in= closing;the outer sides of the seeds cells; said member being 'gremovabl'e to per-, mit-the-fuse; of a,-plate' of larger diameter, anda seed plate of s1 allerdiameter in positi'emto have its ,eells closed by said member.

9: In a seed discharging-. mechanism, the combinati'ongof 1a serieslol interchangeable seed-platcs-ofdili erent diameters containlIlg-qSQQClflGllS-Of dilierentdimensions for, dill'erentikindsf of seeds, and a, filler meniber adaptedrforuse in connection With the plates: otthe smaller diameter, and movable to" permit the use of plates'of larger diameter; I I

In testimony whereof- I :have aflixed my signature;

' @ORBIN'F. SMITH;

Copies: of this patent maybeobtained for five cents each, ;=b y addressing-the Commissioner of Pat ents"; Y 7 Washington, 110. v 

